Well drilling and pumping apparatus



Aug. 18, 1936. G. M CONNELL 2,051,614

WELL DRILLING AND PUMPING APPARATUS Original Filed May 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 18,1936. G. MCCONNELL '2,051,614

WELL DRILLING AND PUMPING APPARATUS Original Filed May 20 192s 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELL DRILLING AND PUMPING APPARATUS of Delaware Original application May 20, 1926, Serial No.

110,460. Divided and this application October 19, 1927, Serial No. 227,141

15 Claims. (Cl. 74-591) This invention relates to improvements in well drilling and pumping apparatus, and has special reference to a balancing device cooperative with a part of the driving mechanism.

In the standard rigs now employed for drilling and pumping oil wells, the various operations in connection with the drilling of the well, including the drilling operation proper, the pulling of tools, the setting and pulling of casings, and the operation of the bailer, require a wide range of horse power demand upon the power unit. When the apparatus also is used in pumping operations, this range of power demand is increased. This wide range of horse power requirement for the complete functioning of the apparatus is further complicated by the wide range of speed operations required for the different purposes for which the complete apparatus is used. For these reasons, steam power has been largely and almost exclusively employed as the power unit.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved means cooperative with operating parts of the machine to counterweight the walking beam when the machine is used for pumping operations.

Other objects will appear from the following description of the apparatus, --reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view.

Fig. 2 is a vertical elevation.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the application of the counter-weight for pumping operations.

This is a division of my prior application Serial No. 110, 460, filed May 20; 1926 for Well drilling and pumping apparatus and, in order to-afford a complete understanding of the entire machine, without reference to my said prior application, I have shown the complete machine in the annexed drawings and now proceed to a description of the same.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings 1 conventionally shows a standard derrick which it will be understood is equipped with the necessary sheaves and pulleys for hoisting and drilling operations. At one side of the derrick I the bull wheel 2 is mounted in suitable bearings 3 and includes a double-grooved pulley wheel 4 to receive the tug or bull ropes 5 by which the bull wheel is driven in the drilling,

, cleaning and swabbing operations.

in setting and pulling the casing. At one side is connected at II to the inner end of thebeam Ill. The opposite end of the walking beam has pivoted thereto the pitman l2.

Disposed at a suitable distance from the derrick and journaled in bearings l2 supported by the jack posts I3 is a crank shaft l4 having a crank arm at its forward end that carries a wrist pin I6, whereby the crank arm is connected with the pitman l2 in drilling and pumping operations.

The crank shaft 84 has aflixed thereto a double- 15 grooved pulley I! over which the tug or bull ropes 5 fit to drive the bull wheel at an increased speed.

, 0n the end of the crank shaft opposite the end that supports the crank arm I5 is a. sprocket wheel l8, which is adapted to be clutched to and released from the crank shaft by a manually operated jaw clutch conventionally illustrated at IS. The sprocket l8 constitutes the calf wheel drive, the power from which sprocket -is transmitted to a decreased speed by a sprocket chain 20 fitting over the sprocket 8 of the calf wheel.

The construction thus far described will be recognized to be substantially the construction of the standard pumping and drilling rigs, and the power to the crank shaft has ordinarily been 3( supplied by a direct connection from the power unit through a belt from the engine to the bandwheel carried by the crank shaft. It is readily understood that the various requirements of power from the crank shaft in the range of drilling and pumping operations varies largely in power and in speed of operation required. On account of this wide range of speed and power requirements, a steam' engine has been found to be the most feasible power unit. Internal combustionenginesand electric motors, which are directly connected to the crank shaft and which must be driven to develop the wide range of power required in the different operations, have been found to be unsatisfactory for the work.

By interposing a differential and selective power transmission device between the power unit and the driven crank shaft, the. apparatus has been adapted for use either with an internal combustion engine or electric motor as, the prime mover and the efficiency for the various kinds of work required has been increased.

The motor M may be of any form of power unit desired, the outer end of the power shaft 2| thereof being e'quippedwith a pair of sprocket wheels 22 and 23.

Intermediate the power shaft of the motor and the crank shaft with its axis disposed parallel thereto is a counter-shaft 24 journaled in bearings 25. In alinement with the sprocket 23 and mounted on the shaft 24 is a sprocket 26 adapted to be connected with and released from the shaft by a friction clutch 21. The ratio of the sprockets 23 and 26 is approximately 1 to 1, so that, when the sprocket 26 is connected with the shaft 24, said shaft will be driven at the same rate of speed as the power shaft of the engine. Adjacently arranged on the shaft 24 to the sprocket 26 is a sprocket 28 of larger diameter-than the sprocket 22 so that the shaft 24' may be driven at a reduced speed in relation to the power shaft of the engine. The sprocket 28 is adapted to be connected to and disconnected from the shaft 24 by a friction clutch 29. The drive connection between the sprocket 23 and the sprocket 26 comprises a multiple chain drive 30 and a similarchain-drive 3| is provided between the sprocket 22- and the sprocket 26.

The shaft 24 is made up of two units that are connected together by a standard shaft coupling device 32 in order to provide for interchange of power transmission devices in the place of the clutch sprocket construction just described. The section of the shaft 24 in front of the coupling 32 carries a triple tooth sprocket 33 adapted to be connected to and disconnected from the shaft 24 by a jaw clutch 34. A sprocket wheel 35 of larger diameter than the sprocket wheel 33 is carried on the shaft l4 and. is adapted to be driven from the sprocket 33 by a multiple chain drive 36. The forward end of the shaft 24 also parries a sprocket 31 adapted to be connected to and disconnected from the shaft by a jaw clutch 36, said sprocket 31 being arranged to drive a sprocket wheel 39 of the sand reel 40 through a chain drive 4!. The sand reel may be used for drawing the bailer and for pulling rods and tubing or for other hoisting operations.

From the foregoing it will be understood that in the operation of the apparatus, when the bull wheel 2 is required for drilling, cleaning or swabbing or for pulling tools, the bull ropes 5 are connected over the sheaves 4 and I1 respectively, and the bull wheel driven at an increased speed in respect of the rotation of the shaft l4. The shaft I4 is driven from the counter-shaft at" the required differential speed from the power shaft of themotor by selecting the uniform or decreased speed transmission by operating either the clutch 21 or 29. When the operation of the calf wheel is required in setting or pulling the casing or in other hoisting operations, the sprocket I6 is connected with the shaft l4 by the operation of the clutch [9. This drives the calf wheel at a reduced speed ratio and increased power leverage, and to vary the speed and power ratio from the prime mover, either of the initial drives from the motor shaft may be employed. It will be understood that under these conditions the walking beam pitman is disconnected from the crank arm-.

In adjusting the device for cable tool drilling or for pumping operations the bull ropes are disconnected and the clutch l9 released and the pitman of the walking beam connected with the wrist pin of the crank arm.

The wheel 11 is so constructed that after the bull ropes are disconnected and the apparatus is by a removable weight structure comprising a block 42 having its inner surface formed to fit over the periphery of the wheel H. The block 42 has a removable outer plate 43 so that the weight may be varied either by including or omitting the use of the plate 43. The block 42 and the plate 43 are rigidly held in connection withthe wheel H by tie-rods 44, disposed on either side of the wheel l1 and extending through the plate 43 and the block 42, the opposite ends of said tie-rods extending through clamping plates 45 disposed against the shaft l4 at either side of the hub thereof. The center gravity of the retard of the axis of the crank arm so that, when the walking beam is operatively connected with the crank arm IS, the wheel l1 in cooperation with the weight 42 provides a counter weight for the walking beam in the pumping operations.

From the foregoing it will be seen that, by the provision of the elements of the power transmission, the apparatus is adapted for the wide range of power and speed requirements necessary for the complete performance of the functions of the apparatus. be modified without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

1. In a device of the character described, a crank shaft, a crank arm thereon, a load reciprocating means connected therewith, a circular member on said shaft, a weight adapted to fit the circumferential surface of said member and slide thereon, and means to clamp said weight in various adjusted positions thereon.

2. In a device of the character described, a crank shaft, a crank arm thereon, a load reciprocating means connected therewith, a circular member on said shaft, a sectional weight adapted to fit the circumferential surface of said member and slide thereon, and means to clamp said weight in various adjusted positions thereon.

3. In a device of the character described, a crank shaft, acrank arm thereon, a load reciprocating means connected therewith, a circular member on said shaft, a counterbalance weight adapted to fit the circumferential surface of said member and slide thereon, means for varying the weight of said counterbalance weight, and means to clamp said weight in various adjusted positions on said member. I

4. In a device of the character described, a crank shaft, a crank arm thereon, a load reciprocating means connected therewith, a circula;- member on said shaft, a weight adapted to fit the circumferential surface of said member and slide thereon, and means to clamp said weight in various adjusted positions thereon, said means comprising tie rods extending through said weight at opposite sides of the shaft, and plates to secure the inner ends of said tie rods adjacent to the axis of the crank shaft.

I am aware that the structure may 0 5. In an apparatus of the class described, the

combination with a walking beam, of a crank shaft, a wheel carried by said crank shaft, a crank arm carried by said shaft, a .pitman connected with said crank arm for operating said walking beam, a counterbalance for the walking beam comprising a block adapted to be connected against the periphery of said wheel, and tie rods on opposite sides of said wheel and having their inner ends connected with the hub of said wheel and their outer ends connected with and clamping said block against the periphery of said wheel.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the

combination of a walking beam, a crank shaft, a wheel attached to the crank shaft, a crank arm attached to the crank shaft, a pitman having one end connected with the walking beam and the opposite end connected with said crank arm, a. counterbalance weight for the walking beam seated against the outer periphery of said wheel, means for varying the weight of said counterbalance weight, and clamping devices on opposite sides of said wheel for clamping said weight against the periphery of said wheel.

'7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a walking beam, a crank shaft, a wheel attached to the crank shaft, a crank arm attached to the crank shaft, a pitman having one end connected with the walking beam and the opposite end connected with said crank arm, a

counterbalance weight for the walking beam seatedagainst the outer periphery of said wheel, means for varying the weight of said counterbalance weight, and clamping devices on opposite sides of said wheel for clamping the counterbalance weight in different adjusted positions along the outer periphery of said wheel.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a walking beam, of a crank shaft, a wheel carried by said crank shaft, a

crank arm carried by said shaft, a pitman connected with said crank arm for operating said walking beam, and a counterbalance for the walking beam comprising a sectional weight fltting against the circumferential surface of said wheel, and means for connecting said weight ad- ,iustably circumferentially with said wheel.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a walking beam, of a crank shaft, a wheel carried by said crank shaft, a crank arm carried by said shaft, a pitman connected with said crank arm for operating said walking beam, a counterbalancefor the walking beam comprising an outer block and an inner block adapted to be connected against the periphery of said wheel in, connection with said inner block or independently of said inner block, as desired, and tie rods coimected with the hub of said wheel at opposite sides of said wheel and with both of said blocks or with said inner block alone, as desired, and clamping said inner block against the periphery of said wheel.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a. walking beam, of a crank shaft, a wheel carried by said crank shaft, a crank arm carried by said shaft, a pitman coni nected with said crank arm for operating said walking beam, and a counterbalance for the walking beam comprising a weight block formed to fit against the periphery of said wheel, tie rods extending through said weight block at opposite sides of the wheel, and-platesfor securing the inner ends of said tie rods adjacent to the axis of the crank shaft. 1

11. In an apparatus of the class described. the combination of a crank shaft, a crank arm on one end of said shaft, and a grooved band wheel carried by said shaft, with a walking beam, a pitman operatively connecting said crank arm with said walking beam, a weight composed of sectional plates, one of said plates being formed to fit a segment of the periphery of said band wheel, and means for adjustably and releasably attaching said weight to the periphery of said band wheel.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a crank shaft, a crank arm on one end of saidshaft, and a grooved band wheel car.- ried by said shaft, with a walking beam, a pitman operatively connecting said crank arm with said walking beam, a weight composed of sectional plates, one of said plates being formed to fit a segment of the periphery of said band wheel, tie rods extending through said plates for coupling the sections of the weight together, and means for securing the opposite ends of said tie rods at a point adjacent to the axis of the crank shaft.

13. In an apparatus of the character described,

the combination of a walking beam, a crank sliaft, a wheel attached to said crank shaft, a crank arm attached to said crank shaft, a pitman connecting said crank arm and said walking beam for operating said walking beam by said crank arm, a counterbalance weight for the walkried by said shaft, with a walking beam, a pitman operatively connecting said crank arm with said walking beam, a. weight formed to fit a segment of the periphery of said band wheel, and means for adjustably and releasably attaching said weight to the periphery of said band wheel.

15. An apparatus of the character described, comprising two spaced supports, a rotary shaft supported by said supports, two wheels attached to said shaft between said supports, connections for rotating one of. said wheelsand thereby said shaft and said other wheel, a crank attached to said shaft adjacent to the outer side of one of said supports, a walking beam, a pitman-having one end connected with said walking beam and the opposite end connected with said crank arm. a counterbalance weight for the walking beam,

and means for supporting said counterbalance GLENVER MCCONNELL. 

